This is the City of Destruction and its streets are
named after the daughters of Belial--Pride, Lucre and Pleasure. The
Angel tells him of the might and craftiness of Belial and the alluring
witchery of his daughters, and also of another city on higher ground--the
City of Emmanuel--whereto all may fly from Destruction. They descend and
alight in the Street of Pride amidst the ruined and desolate mansions of
absentee landlords. They see there kings, princes, and noblemen,
coquettes and fops; there is a city, too, on seven hills, and another
opposite, with a crescent on a golden banner above it, and near the gate
stands the Court of Lewis XIV. Much traffic is going on between these
courts, for the Pope, the Sultan and the King of France are rivals for
the Princesses' hands.
They next come to the Street of Lucre, full of Spaniards, Dutchmen and
Jews, and here too, are conquerors and their soldiers, justices and their
bribers, doctors, misers, merchants and userers, shopmen, clippers,
taverners, drovers, and the like. An election of Treasurer to the
Princess is going on--stewards, money-lenders, lawyers and merchants
being candidates, and whoso was proved the richest should obtain the
post.
Pages:
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32